Ice handling machine



Filed Nov. 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS y 24, 1932- s. H. DURBIN ICE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 7. 1929. 4 Sheets Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS S. H. DURBIN ICE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. '7, 1929 4 .SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOB urbm ATTORNEYS y s. H. DURBIN ICE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 7, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented May 24,, 1932 I itsw sfii FF i A bp lieti on fil d ll'cvember 7, 1929. serial 1%. 405,334.

Hera W1 machine to the level of the 'crziclle bbttc h swingthe cradle wh n, th M9 is e t matital x esqhaxged i li ac ine, e e' t.W1 hx the edlte al tdm'at'ica lly swings bziekto receive another ;w

block I a i :3 .a 'ZYJJ i In the present instehceythe figurie lQjis siib'stahtizilly fectangu lar in shape 23.1391 ferhieclof struciu l angles 12, 1,8,a1 1d 14t,ex=

tehdi ig 'longitlidi ally cf the frame; zind ha t i g cross brace menihe fs l5, ljahgljlS, A bettem plate 19 extends between the sidje members 12 audit and between. theilitelk mecliite braces 16 and :17 beihg weldedigi ctherwise secured to these niembelis gtp strengthehthe frziihe. The c il-qlle ll is shpwn as having a bottom 20, apiifencl gl anql ipair of substantially 'triahgultp sitles 212 nd 2, all preferably made heavy a gauge sheet metal 22nd rigidly seciu'e l teg ether with the sides extending. 'beyehdthe bQttpljn angl eg d,

'The hdttdl n an cljeild H 1 5 :he b rzicedhy mee ps of fstructural angls secillfed t6 4 the outer faces of the bbtto'm ui'd end, 1 v The cradle llis pivomwmoj nted hetyytee the frame, angles lB end. 14 by shaft 24 which eiztehcls thrCiiIghthepXt MIetl cradle sides 22 end 23 jiistsout side thejunq tiO Qftheb tt m QO and ehclfZlahd is joint- 13'and 14. When imposition tbireceive ja block of ice to b'e lipehd'e d, .th',e clizi cll elisfih the pqsitionshown ill fllll liriesililv Figs. find [6, that is, suppei'tecl oh the bbtito lh pltte 19 of the frame with the bettcih Crad e in substantially hori'z'cnttllpesiticn a i short distance above the flbei' on which the niiil'chi'ne rests; t i In Qtder toget the ice fifq'm the fiodrfiiitb the bottb'fii of I Way 26 (Figs ,1 and 4) is ,pli oyidegclbetweeh the beams 13111161 15L aiin'clezite'ndsrgii'wzii'tlly from thefioor level at filie'flQIlhIiClQf v us zi-he'elcl ofthc cradle." After in. ice ble o edge has been slid end first "ztiidf iip in;

sl jij'd vay and i te ttheflc ri gllei the crladle is W pg Upwardly and rear wa-fdly by mecha,-.

vr cal 'positicii seeyfclotte duntil its ehclQI is siiyipoiftd by the bottom the cradle; iiii ihcli iedflsliigle ibo A second forming a continuation of the rear skidway 28.. The'end 21 of the cradle is provided with openings 32 (Figs. l and to permit the upper portions of the tracks to project above the level of the end 21 when the cradle is in vertical position. The apiccs 33 of the surfaces 30 and 31 are so located that as the cradle approaches its vertical position, these apices project through the end 21 and engage the lower end of the ice cake in front of its 3 center of gravity. Upon further movement of the cradle, thecake is caused to tilt rear wardly until its lower end engages the surfaces 30 and the skidway 28 (see dotted po sition in Fig. 4) when the cake willslide down the skidway and onto the floor in up ended position. The cradle is then returned to horizontal position to receive another cake, as will be described. p i

" Herein, the means for swinging the cradle consists broadly of a fixed abutment on the cradle adapted to be engaged by a movable element, preferably carried by a chain. See Fig. 6. A bracket 34 is rigidly secured'to the side plate'23 of the cradle and is provided with rearwardly. extending portions having a vertical slot 35 (Fig; 1) and an intersecting transverse slot 36 (Fig.6) providing a pair of spaced upper arms 37 and a pair of spaced lower arms 38. An endless sprocket chain 39'is trained over lower and upper sprockets 40 and 41 respectively, and around a drive sprocket 42; another sprocket 13 being located near the drive sprocket l2 to cause the chairito contact with approximately one-half the teeth of thedrivesprocket. The sprocket- 43 may be adjustablev (not shown) to take up playin the chain.

v The sprockets 40 and 41 are journaled in a support 44 (Fig. 2) which is mounted on the main frame10 adjacent to the side 23 of the cradle. As shown in Fig. 6, the front portion of the lower sprocket 10 extends partially into the slot 35 between the arms 37, while the lower portion is slightly below the central part of the slot 36. Between the sprockets 40 and 41 the chain 39 is constrained to move in an arcuate' path, by of a. guide track 45, whose outer edge, over which the chain slides, is concentric with the pivot shaft 2 1. The chain is provided with a special link 46having a pair of laterally ex and engage the arms 37 and 38. When the cradle 1s 1n horizontal position, the link 46 1s 1n the lower or horlzontal flight of the chain 39 and to elevate the cradle, the drive sprocket 4-2 is rotated in a clockwise direction. he

lugs 47 then enter the slot 36 and engage the arms 37, and upon further 'moveni'e'nt of the chain, the cradle is swung u'pwa' rdly'to vertical position, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 6. -While moving between tl'1e,s 3rockets 10 and 4 1,the lugs engage both the arms 37 and the arms 38, thereby practically locking the cradle to the chain.

When the cradle is in vertical position, the upper portion of the sprocket 11 extends partially into the slot 35 betweenthe arms 38 while the rear portion is slightlyin rear of the central'piart offth-eslot-36. If'thechain continues to move, the lugs 47 move down} wardly out of the slot 36, so that nodamage will be done. "'In order to return the'cradle to horizontal position, itis only necessary to reverse the direction of'th'e chain, thatis,

by driving sprocket 42' in a count'erclockwise direction. The lugs move upwarmyinwthe slot 36, engaging first the arms'38 and then both pairs of arms 37 and 38, causing the cradle to be lowered to horizontal posltionl When the cradle reaches that position, the lugs 4=7 leave the slot 36 and enter the lower flight of the chain. 7, j ff The drive sprocket 12 may be operated in any desired manner, but it'is hereinfshown as being operated through the medium of'a gear reduction transmission unit lS, operably connected'to an electric motor 19. See Figs. 1,2and'5. 1

In order to start the motor automatically when a block of ice is placed'in thefcradle, a switch 50 (Figs. 11Iai1d4)is 'mounted on the bottom 19 and arranged so as to, be nornially open with the endof lever arm 51 projecting through and above the bottom 20 near the end 21,so as to bejengaged and depressed by. an icelblock when the block reaches its proper position in fthe cradle.

The switch 50, upon'being closed, closes a" standard magnetic switch 52 (see closing the circuit'to the motor, which rive's' approaches its vertical position, it breaks the circuit of the magnetic switch '52,.which in turn breaks the motor'circuit. The switch 52 upon breaking the motor circuit-operates a time relay 55,"which, after 'a short period of time, reverses themotorby means of. the reversing magnetic switch 52 .causing the motor l9 to move the chain in la counterclockwise. direction, thereby. "returning the cradle to horizontal position.- When the cradle reaches this position, the switch 53 breaksthe circuit'inthesolenoid of the switch 52 "which in .turn breaks the.;motor 1 circuit. 7 This; does not :operate the time .1relayi 55iand may becaused. to operate toreverse thezmotor 7 When the cradle-is in horizontal-position,-and

' 1 lowering ice,v as will be described.

the-cradlewill then;stop: invertical position,

thereby making. the. machine. adaptable for To: lowersrupended ice :icakes toz-one edge,

the: tracks 29 are removed,. and similar; tracks (not shown) are secured. tozthe. plate 19,--'so asto' project throughaopenings .57 in the .plate 'ofithe cradle. "Switch is lalso; moved,

so as to be, actuated by the cakes. .EEhe-ice -;block isi pushed up the skidWay'28 into. the =vertically positioned cradle, .eengz'iging the switch arm s51'and closing the smotorzcirc uit.

The chain .39 then. moves in.- a'- counterclock- Wise direction, lowering .thecradle. 1 The ice cake-is. automatically discharged tromthe ne cradle by the. above-mentioned I tracks "(not shown),;sliding*byngraVity down thers'kidway-26 onto the. floor. zAfter a=short-period of timethe cradleureturns to verticall-position .to receive another. upended. block.

. -VVhile the machine couldremain stationary atfall-times, it. is 'desirable toamake it portable, sothatit .may abe:..located.'near'the point 'wherethe.ice'is-toube:stored. %:T his is to avoid unnecessary. handling of the ice on end,=because when moved'aboution end',*ice

;is liable to falluover; andnbreakeor itzlmay Wheels,-:one pair being 'eswiveled. Wheels58 land located O116.1t58ltl181$1d6 neari-the front of the .machine-, ;and;.thezwheels 59 :of the ctherpair are'atopposite sidesnear the rear.

Each'of the'wheels isejournalled on the intermediate portion of a l6V1'-*60, Wl1lCh llS pivotally connected jat-rone end to a. bracket 61 rigidly secured tothevframeJO. 'The..:ar-

'rangement is such that When the 'frame-Qrests fiat on the floor, thesf-ree ends of the levers extend upwardly.atan-inclinatiom ilSi'ShOWIl in Fig. 4. A latch. rod162is slidably mount- -ed oneach lever, having oneiend pivotally .i'connected to a spring-pressed trip lev'er63, while the other free end-is :adapted :to engage beneath a fixed: abutment. 64'1Ol'lfbl18 frameI To raisethe"frame,ithecoperator depresses'lthe free end Iof one fofthe. levers;

.the Wheel axle serves as a pivot pin for the lever] andthe associatedcorner ofithe frame is raised; until the wrod' sn aps beneath the abutment 64: to hold the corner'of theframe I raised. 1 This procedure is :foll-owed with each of. the :other" threelever's," when the frame 7 will be supported onithe rollers, and' du-eito the casterwheel's' '58 the. trame-mayabevneadily moved about.v

WVhenzthexframe is to be lowered,:.the-.op- .ieratorimiay" depress both; levers .60: and r 63 -'.:0f; 2'oneiwheel: at .the 'same'itimeizand 2 then re: 2-.lease5pressu1eon' the lever-60,- still holding 'rtheiitripdever depressed. This permits "the =l'ever- 60 l to .raisealoivering one corner. ofathe aframe to: the floor. Similar action will. low- :er theother three corners.

1: From Jthe foregoing: t it Will; be; seen ithat l .the .lnac-hinel .may'. be readily raised, 4 moved -:about and lowered: to. rest ion. tl1e..floor :in-any desirable location. A.rbl0Cli of ice ana then .u-be pushedintothe cradle When it: will be automatically turned to. another .face and. .dis-

i charged from the machine, the ecradle then automatically returning". I :to receive another wblock. The only thing. the; OPGIatOI'iCIIQGd ridoxis toislide thewblocks .uptheeskidway and 1 into the cradle. Land even this, in. some. locar. tions, .inay. be done a .poweneoperated. con- @vey'or, .or a gravity ice run.

. Obviously, the present. invention isnotreictedv to the particular embodiment there- :herein. shown: andtedescribed. Moreover,

-it1is znotindispensable that all the features oh .the invention .be i :used 1 conj ointly,..since they may i be employed advantageously. i in various combinations and.subecombinations. WVhat I ela i1n,is-:

if 1.1 Aatmachine. ofthe: classdescribed comprising, in combination, a'pivotedacradle; a zpowereactuated;endless'-chainfdriven in a vplaneadjacent theacradle; an abutment fixed to"; the ".QIZldlfi between its :ends and; means sfixedi to the :chain'. for 1 engagement 1 withz'sa'id abutment .toiswing thel'cradle by power: on its "pivot axis. v .machline of :the class. described com- ..prisingiimcombination, a cradle pivoted at vone-send; anwendless chain zdrivein a plane a,d'acent thexcradle' mechanism for-reversr-iblydriving said chain pan abutment, .fiXedto ithe: cradlelbetwveemits ends; and :means' fixed to :the'chainand 'cngagieable with-the :abut- -:mentrirrespective of the directiongin Which f t-heichainais drive-n, so as/to swing the cradle by :powerzineither direction on its pivot-axis.

3. Ainachine of the class described comzprisi'ng,-:in combination, a cradle pivoted at 'oneaend to=siving vertica-lly; an endlesschain lyingsin a vertical plane adjacentone side of "the cradle mechanism for reversiblydriving )Silildf chain an: abutment fixed to and projectlinggfrom thesideoit': the cradle WlllCh'iS adja cent-the "chain and means fixed tothe chain ::and engageable with the abutment, irrespective of I the direction in- 'iWlliCh the-E chain is I'Q'dI'lVQIl, s to SWlng."i5l16'=*C-I&Cll8 by power ;:in either direction on itSgPlVOi'; axis. 4. .A;- machine-;of the (ZlZLSSEClQSCIi'bGCl' comprising in combination; a-cra-dle pivoted-at one end to swing verticallyg n'endless chain 'lyingi in aye'rtical plane adjacentone side of' the cradle mechanism tforrreversibly driving sald 0113.111 an. :abutment; fixednto rand prodriven, to swing the cradle by power in either direction on its pivot axis;.saidabutment being so constructed and arranged and the chain being so guided that when the cradle is upright, and also when it is horizontal, the

* means fixed to the chain will move out of contact therewith, so that breakage will not occur even if the chain continues to move for some distance after the cradle. has reached either limit of movement.

5.-A machine of the class described com prising, in combination, a cradle pivoted to swing through an arc of about 90 a poweractuated mechanism for swinging the cradle in either direction on its pivot axis; a track member having an apex intermediate its ends,

and so placed relative to the cradle as to receive a cake of ice on its apex,-which provides a'fulcrum for the cake; thetrack.me1nber having an inclined surface extending from the apex to its outer end; and a skidway substantially alined with said inclined surface and so placed as to receive a cake of ice as itslides down the'track member.

6. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cradle comprising an end,ra bottom and two sides, all of which are dimensioned so as to receive a commercial ice cake; said cradle being pivoted near its end so as to swing through an arc of about 90; a track member located adjacent the end of the cradle'and about on a level with the bottom of cradle when said bottom is horizontal; said track member having .two oppositely inclined top surfaces meeting inf an intermediate apex providing a fulcrum on which an ice cake may rock; the cradle having an opening in its end to permit itsend to swing down substantially to a horithe machine.

zontalposition without interference with the track member; the ice cake, after rocking on the track member, sliding down an incllned surface thereof and being discharged from 7 VA machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cradle pivoted atone end; a powei actuated endless chain lying in a plane adjacent the cradle; a bracket fixed to one side'of the cradle near its free end and having a vertical'slot and an intersecting transverse slot providing a pair of spaced upper arms and a pair of spaced lower arms; one link of the chain having a pair of'laterally extending lugs adapted to enter the transverse slot and engage the upper and low- 'er arms aforesaid; the chain thus swinging the cradle about its pivot axis in one direction or the other.

8. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cradle pivoted at one end; a power-actuated endless chain lying in a plane adjacent the cradle; a bracket fixed to one side of the cradle near its free end and having a vertical slot and an intersection transverse slot providing a pair of spaced upper arms and a pair of spaced lower arms; one link of the chain having a pair of laterally extending lugs adapted to enter the transverse slot and engage the upper and lower arms aforesaid; the chain thus swinging the cradle. about its pivotaxis in onedirection or the other; the slots and lugs being so constructed and arranged that if the chain continues to move in either directionafter the cradle has reached the limits of its movement, the lugs move out of the slots and away from the bracket, so that no parts may be broken. 1 I

9. A machine of the classdescribed com- 7 reversing magnetic switches, a switch located adjacent the cradle and adaptedto close the motor circuit as soon as an ice cake is in position on the cradle, a limit switch actuated by the motor'to stop the swinging of the cradle in both directions, and a master switch.

A machine of the classdescribed comprising, in combination, a cradle so constructed. and arranged as to swing through an arc of about an electric motor; mechanism interposed between the motor and cradle to swing the cradle; a motor circuit including reversing magnetic switches, a switch located adjacent the cradle and adapted to close the motor circuitas soon asan ice cake is in position on the cradleya limit switch which is operated by the motor to break the motor circuit as the cradle reachesits limits of V movement; atime relay which effects a pause in the cradle movement when in upper position, anda master switch. 7

11. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a frame; a cradle constructed and arranged to receive a cake of ice and turn it through 90; an electric motor; and electric control means in the circuit of the motoradapted to automatically start and stop the cradle and to automatically bring the cradle back to its initial position,.and remain in that position with the motor at rest until another cake of 7 ice is placed on the cradle.

12. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cradle so constructed and arranged as to swing through an arc ofabout 90 an electric motor;'mechanism interposed between the motor and switch located adj acent'the cradle and adapted to close the motor circuit as soon as an ice cake is in position on the cradle, a limit switch which operates to break the motor circuit as the cradle reaches its limits of movement; a time relay which efiects a pause in the cradle movement when in upper position; a changeover switch in circuit with the time relay so as to make the relay operate when the cradle is in horizontal position, and a master switch.

13. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a cradle pivoted to swing through an arc of about a poweractuated mechanism for swinging the cradle in either direction on its pivot axis; and a track member having an apex intermediate its ends, and so placed relative to the cradle as to receive a cake of ice on its apex.

14. A machine for up-ending ice cakes and the like comprising, in combination, a frame; three vertical sprockets on the frame; an endless chain trained over said sprockets; a lug secured to the chain; a cradle mounted to oscillate through an arc of about 90? and having means projecting therefrom for en gagement by the lug during its travel between two of the sprockets; means for guiding and supporting that portion of the chain which extends between said two sprockets; and power-actuated means for driving said chain.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

STANLEY H. DURBIN. 

